Relationship between Corporal Punishment on Academic Performance and Wellbeing of School Students: A study of Gojal, Hunza, Pakistan

Abstract

The current study was designed to assess the association between corporal punishment, students’ academic performance and wellbeing. A cross sectional survey was completed by 110 consecutive students from grade 9th and 10th who agreed to participate in the current study. The students were selected from one private and two public schools located in Gojal village in Hunza valley located in Gilgit Baltistan region of Pakistan using responsive driven sampling technique. The findings of the study showed a significant positive association between corporal punishment and academic performance. However, the association was significantly negative between corporal punishment and psychological wellbeing. Further analysis indicated a significant gender differences in corporal punishment where males perceived to have faced more punishment as compared to females. On the basis of these findings, it
may be concluded that students who are given corporal punishment are at risk of developing mental health issues. These findings may be relevant to mental health practitioners and school counselors to modify existing impractical policies related to corporal punishment.